KANSAS CITY - The 2023-24 Winona State University men's basketball season kicks off in earnest for the Warriors over the weekend of Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11, as WSU will take part in the 2023 Central Region Challenge, hosted by the historic Muncipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. 

Winona State (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) will face the University of Arkansas Monticello on Friday, Nov. 10, with a 7 p.m. tip off scheduled against the Weevils and then will compete on Saturday, Nov. 11 against the University of Southern Arkansas. The Warriors and Muleriders will also start at 7 p.m. on Saturday. 


WINONA STATE STORYLINES 
- WSU defeated cross-town rival Saint Mary's 87-39 in an exhibition contest on Sunday, Nov. 5
- Connor Dillon was tabbed the WSU Player-to-Watch in the 2023-24 NSIC Coaches' Poll.
- Dillon delivered 29 points in 29 minutes versus the Cardinals in the preseason matchup. 
- Connor Drew added 15 points to the Warrior effort against MSU.
- Winona State was the NCAA Division II National Champion in 2006 and 2008; WSU was runner up in 2007. 
- WSU has never played Arkansas Monticello or Southern Arkansas in the NCAA DII era.
- The Warriors added two assistant coaches for the 2023-24 campaign; Devin Whitelow and Cole Rabedeaux are both in their 1st year on the Warrior sideline.
- Whitelow was the 2020-21 NSIC Don Olson Award honoree as a senior point guard for Winona State. 
- Rabedeaux was a standout player at UW-Eau Claire and had an assistant coaching stint with NCAA Division I University of Houston. 
- Head coach Todd Eisner is embarking on his 9th season with the Warriors and 26th overall as a college head coach. 
- Heading into the season, Eisner's all-time coaching record stands at 531-263 including a 115-97 Winona State ledger.

Arkansas Monticello STORYLINES
- UA-M was picked 10th in the 2023-24 GAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll. 
- The Weevils were 11-17 overall last year.
- Arkansas Monticello was 7-15 in league action in 2022-23.
- UA-M lost to two NSIC schools last year in the Central Region Showdown. 
- Augustana beat the Weevils 68-67 on Nov. 11, 2022.
- SCSU defeated UA-M 92-60 on Nov. 12, 2022. 
- Head coach Chad Tapp has been with UA-M since August 20, 2021.

Southern Arkansas STORYLINES
- Southern Arkansas was picked 3rd in the 2023-24 GAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.